Haitian-American singer-songwriter Leyla McCalla comes from a long line of activism. Her father served as executive director of the National Coalition for Haitian Rights, and her mother founded Dwa Fanm, an anti-domestic violence organization. Her grandfather ran a Haitian socialist newspaper. Now, the former cellist of the Grammy Award-winning string band Carolina Chocolate Drops is presenting a new multi-disciplinary work that explores her cultural and personal history. For two years, McCalla dug through the archives at Duke University for recordings of Radio Haiti, Haiti’s first privately owned Creole-speaking radio station. The completed work weaves storytelling, dance, video and material from Radio Haiti to give a voice to the marginalized people of a country misunderstood by the eyes of the world, which suffered for generations under cultural and political oppression. Tickets to “Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever” can be purchased online at pac.uga.edu.
WHO: Leyla McCalla
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Ramsey Concert Hall
HOW MUCH: $50
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